FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1549, 4 September 1905, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

AUSTRALIA V. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND 14 TO 3.

(Per Press Association.)

Dunedin, Saturday. Tho match between Australia and New Zealand was played on Tahuna Park. There had been practically no rain sinoe the middle of May, but it set it on Thursday night, and has continued ever -sinoe. All the grounds were under water, but the Tahuna Park portion whioh was played on was in wonderfully good order. The enbsoil is all sand, and as there is only a

light top-dressing of soil there was not a drop on the ground, which, though slightly ».-heavy,, was as dry as a bone. Considering ’ i lhe weather, tfc«*chaDgß of ground, and the laok of facilities in getting to it, there was a surprising attendance. The ground was a little rough, but the visitors admitted that their defeat by 14 to 3 was in no way due to the ground. A stiff breeze blew with the slope of the ground, and New Zealand had to contend against both in the first spell, in spite of which they were attaokiag for most of the spell. . .- Australia won the toss, and played with .""the wind. New Zea’and attacked, and ’ from loose dribbliDg rushes held an advantage. The ball cama out, after a lot of play, to Wrigley, who sent it on to Bennett and MoPherson, who got to within a few yards of the line. He passed to Wrigley, who.dashed over. The kick at goal was unsuccessful, New Zealand ... , ... ... 8 ■ Australia 0 The Australians then became aggressive, and In the New Zealand 25 McLean picked ' up and scored, no goal being registered. The sides changed over with the scores equal. ja • Australia ... ... ... 3 New Zealand ... >... ... 3 In the second spell the Australians ueaumed the aggressive, and disorganised fllukbaok play for some time. The New Zealand forwards then broke away, and MoMinn, dribbling from the 25, scored a try, which was not converted. New Zoaland 6 Australia 3 New Zealand again attacked, and several chanoes of sooting were lost throogh faulty handling by the backs. Eventually from a scramble on tho Australian line MoMinn again floored, ' . New Zealand. 9 Australia 6 Australia then attaoked, and passing among the backs let MoLean away, but he was taokled on the line, New Zealand forolng. Now Zealand again attacked, and from a loose ruah Gross scored, Francis kioking a goal. 1 ‘ New Zealand ••• W Australia 3 No further soore resulted, and the gamo ended as above. Australia played a good game, especially in tho second half, the defenoe beiog particularly sound.

A MUD SCRAMBLE: CANTERBURY 6, WELLINGTON 3.

(Pet Press Association.)

Christchurch, Saturday.

The football match between Canterbury and Wellington was played at Lancaster Park this afternoon in wretohod woather. Heavy rain fell last night and during the greater part of to-day, and in conaequenoe the ground was in a terrible state, and the game resolved it3elf into a mud scramble. The home team had rather the better of the first spell, and put up six points (a try by Gray, and a penalty goal ,by Fraser). Io the second half Wellington showed improved form, but though attacking on several occasions, only soored once, Hardham registering the try. This was not converted, and Canterbury thus yyon by three points.

JUNIOR MATCHES.

(Per Press Association.)

Nelson, last night

Tbs Intorprovinoial junior football matoh, Nolson v. Marlborough; was won by the latter by 9 to 6 (tbreo trieß to two). The Nelson tries were gained by Aberorombie. Tho ground was very wet, and 0 good exhibition was out of the question. Tho junior team from the Oriental (Wellington) Club were defeated by WaiLuna (Marlborough) Club by 18 to 3. \ WANGANUI MATCHES.

(Per P»ess 'Association-) Wanganui, last night. WhA Wanganui football oup contests haw resulted as follows : Senior cup, Old Boys ; junior and thud-olass, Katerau , Thursday shield, Molroso. , ■[THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. : HAITI-CITY DEFEATS WEST END The final match for the banner oham- “ nloriabib was fought out on tho Victoria ■ Domain last Saturday afternoon .n peltang rain and on a ground dot,ed with pools of water ankle deep. Under those conditions Telow and uninteresting game was expeeled, but such was not tho case, tho match proving to bo ooe of the fastest and WQifi excitinggamsi9l tb* MMOO,

was a good attendance, despite tho foot that it had been raining steadily all t o afternoon and showod no signs of oloanng. Tho teams linod np as follows Kaiti City: Reynolds, Ndan, Hay Sohrafft, Dolamoro, Glennie, Pnflott Murphy, Freor, Allen, Newton, Loydon, G. Willook, Hansen, Sharp. West End: Tate, Roderick (2), Carr, Kongo, Brown, Wi Friday, Sheet, Stewart, Wopiha, Parker, Hoke, Ellison, Pino, B Dehttnoro won tho toss from Carr, and defended tho town goal, having a slight advantage of tho wind. Wopiha sot the hall rolling, Nolan returning to touch out Isido his 25. Play remained m neutral territory for some minutes until Brooking, Porker, and Pino broke away from a linoout and, using their foot clevoriy, had Kaiti-City in difficulty. Dolamoro brought relief by a powerful kiok to oontre. Shortly afterwards the ball was kicked out to Sobrafft on tho wing of tho three-quarter , line, and taking it at full speed ho dodged cleverly through tho Woet End backs, but mot a stumbling blook in Kongo, ana threw forward. Wepiba was instrumental in carrying play back to centre, but Dolamere regatnad tho lost ground by one of his poworful kioks. Tate failed to find the touoh lino, and Nolan wont in unopposed. Pufiett made a fine effort to add tho extra pomts. Givo-and-tako play followod, West End ultimately assuming the aggressive. Hay saved oleverly on numerous oocasions, and Reynolds also frequently got his side ont of a tight oornor. Skeet intercepted and made a splendid opening for his sido, ooming right through to Key« nolds at full, but threw away the advantage gained by a faulty pass. West End pressed hard, and from a sorumon the Kaiti-City line Wi Friday passed to Kongo, who sent the ball on to Brown. The latter could not hold tho wot ball, however, and Pnflett kiokod into saiety. West End were getting the best of tho serums, but all attempts at"'passing were nullified through faulty handling by the backs. Glennie, behind the Kaiti-City pack, was receiving a rough handling, tho West End i forwards coming through with tho ball repeatedly. Dolamere put in solid defence, I and Hay appeared to be in all parts of the field at ocoe. Good passing between Glennie, Sharp, Hay, and Sobrafft plaood Wost End on the defensive, Tate bringing relief by forcing. The Kaiti-City baoks continued to throw the ball about, and Noiau came near soorihg a secondary, being oleverly grassed by Tate within a few yards of the lino. Wi Friday, who was working like a Trojan behind the paob, oleared his line with a useful ktek. Stewart led tho West End forwards in a determined foot rush, but collided with tho Kaiti-City full, and had to retire for a time. Newton and Freer were associated in fine foot work, the West End baoks making futile efforts to pick up the wet ball. Skeet marked a high kiok right in front of his goal, and exohanged kioks with Hay. Pine and Parkor led tho West End vanguard in a rush that threatened the Kaiti-City lino, but Hay was in the right plaoe Bnd kicked out. Half-time was then Bounded.

On ithe resumption of play both sides made the paoe merryi and the ball travel-1 led np and down the held at a brisk rate. I The forwards on both sides were playing splendidly, and got down on the opposing baoks smartly, Delamere was particularly resourceful in stemming the forward attacks, and reoeivad well-merited applause for his versatility. Freer had a lonehanded dribble, oarrying the scene of com- I bat into West End’s quarter, where it re- 1 mained for about ten minutes in dangerous proximity to the goal line. Parker and Pine did well in line work, and mainly through their efforts play was carried to neutral ground, Kongo and Brown took a hand in a passing dash, but Hay upended the latter when the situation was I beginning to look serious. Nolan got a nasty bump half-way through the second I term, which incapacitated him, although he kept his place until the end. Sharp and Willock put in good work and Murphy and Allon further improved the position by fast following np. Oarr centred with, a fine kick. West End were making strenuous efforts to get upon even terms, and were making the gama open. Pine’s long throws in wore responsible for some fast open football, but Kaiti-City’s defence was too sound. They played on the defensive right through the second term, being quite content with their margin of three points. From a penalty Wepiha had a fme shot at goal, the ball just going threofeet from the post. Tho game ended without alteration, Kaiti-Oity thus winning tho championship. For the winners Reynolds as full was safe, and did all that was asked of him with coolness and precision. Nolan and Sobrafft on the wings of the threequarter line, showed splendid form, and handled the wet ball with wonderful accuracy. The latter was tricky and fast, and used his pace fco advantage! H- a y (csntre three-quarter) and Delamere (fiveeighths) were responsible for a lot of very attractive, if not brilliant, football They handled the ball as though it were dry, kicked splendidly, and both defended and attaoked with scarcely a mistake. Glennie at half was rather roughly handled, but stuck gameiy to his task, M. Murphy played a fine game on the wing, and the most conspicuous amongst the forwards were Sharp, Newton and Freer. For West End neither Tate (full), Oarr (centre threequarters) nor Brown (five-eighths) played up to their usual form, finding a difficulty in keeping their feet and handling the ball. Rongo (five-eighths) showed up well, and put in a lot of nice work. ‘ Wekaand Jack Roderick, on the the threequarter line, played well. Wi Friday got through an immense amount of worn nehind the scrum, and was tbe beat stopper of rushes on the ground. Of the forwards Brooking, Wepiha, Parker, Pine, and. Ellison were on the ball from start to finish, and- it was through no fault of theirs that West End did not carry off the championship for 1905. Mr R. G. Hallamore had control of the game, and gave thorough satisfaction. Messrs Rees Jones and W. Gibson held the line flags.